Sports FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015 Building a club from nothing into champions

WASHINGTON: Frank Lampard might be played at the ramshackle RFK Stadium. “If since 2011, among the poorest in the MLS, sion ratings for the men’s World Cup, the forgiven for feeling a sense of apprehen- you’re creating a nice little stew, one of the according to the study. Chris Dodds, a sea- second highest for the women’s World sion as he embarks on his new career at primary ingredients has to be owning and son-ticket holder and member of the Cup, a team with four MLS league titles, New York City FC. The former Chelsea and operating your own stadium,” he said. Screaming Eagles supporter group, agrees and some of the top soccer writers in the Manchester City midfielder has joined a “Here at RFK, we are a tenant, and that the lack of amenities at the crumbling country.” newly formed club that has spent most of being a tenant we don’t have access to the RFK is hurting attendances. “The club also its first season in the basement of Major revenue streams that you need to have to has failed to invest sufficient resources ‘Making stars’ League Soccer’s Eastern Conference and in be successful as a business-not having the into marketing and promoting the team,” Hunt points out that while the figures the absence of its own home is playing at ability to sell naming rights, building our said Dodds, who was among a group of show a healthy appetite for “soccer” in the Yankee Stadium. David Beckham, the for- partnerships on the sponsorship side. “If fans who recently met club officials to capital, the local sports scene is already mer England star who is launching his own you’ve been to any modern facility-stadi- offer feedback. “This is one area that has chockablock, boasting baseball, hockey Miami team, will also be taking a keen um or arena — (they have) technology, started to improve this season. The front and basketball teams, as well as the NFL’s interest in the fortunes of New York City, food options. The whole guest experience office has taken visible steps to reach new Washington Redskins. Washington is not built from scratch with the eye-watering is very different from what we can poten- fans.” Dodds and Hunt agree that it is not unique, however, in that respect- wealth of Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi tially provide here at RFK.” The club has much good having a great stadium if the Beckham’s team will have to compete owners. But history suggests that all the lost money for 20 years running and Hunt team is useless. with several professional sports teams in money in the world does not necessarily does not expect that to change until DC Hunt concedes that the MLS is Miami, including the Dolphins (NFL) and attract fans, ensure supporter loyalty and United are in their own home. nowhere near the Premier League yet, Miami Heat, the NBA champions in 2012 bring on-field success. where teams play out to full houses even and 2013. ‘Struggling for respect’ if they are battling relegation, but says Sometimes, a dose of old-fashioned So what does it take? The supporters might be passionate that American sports owners and adminis- patience goes a long way. “It’s building up Beckham and the City money men and the team top of the league, but home trators have a strong track record when it stars,” said Hunt. “RGIII (Robert Griffin, the might want to take a look at DC United, attendances have been falling-a sore comes to building successful sports clubs. Redskins quarterback) goes into a grocery who sit 11 points clear at the top of the point for many fans, some of whom A “historically awful” 2013 season drove store and everyone knows him. Bill Hamid Eastern Conference and are among the accuse the club of not doing enough to many casual fans away, said Dodds, who (DC United goalkeeper) - people might most successful teams in MLS history. The get bums on seats. According to a fan admits he often cannot find anyone to look at him and think he’s an athlete but key to long-term sustainable success, chief study posted on the Black and Red United accompany him to games. “Sadly, after 20 not everybody knows him yet. “Ten years operating officer Tom Hunt told AFP, is for blog, DC United consistently had over years, DC United still struggles for respect from now that will change. Back in the DC United to have their own stadium- 17,000 for home games from 1996 to among the sports fans in the DC metro days when the NBA really had to make which will happen as early as 2017. Since 2010. area,” said Dodds. “This is really difficult to stars... we are at that point where we need being founded 20 years ago they have But that dipped to less than 15,000 believe since DC had the highest televi- to start making recognizable stars.” —AFP

In this file photo FIFA official Chuck Blazer leaves the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, . As it was announced yesterday, FIFA’s ethics committee has expelled former executive committee member Blazer from football for bribery and other corruption. —AP ZURICH: Two persons are reflected in the FIFA logo at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. —AP FIFA bans Blazer for life FIFA president shifts blame to confederations ZURICH: FIFA yesterday ordered a life ban against Chuck tially more during his time running the Confederation of Blazer, a central figure in the corruption scandal that has North, Central American and Caribbean , in interview engulfed world football, for taking millions of dollars in or CONCACAF. ZURICH: Embattled FIFA President has told a Swiss bribes. “Mr Blazer committed many and various acts of mis- newspaper that continental confederations, rather than soccer’s conduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an Football racketeer world governing body, were to blame for the corruption scandal official in different high-ranking and influential positions at Blazer was CONCACAF general secretary from 1990 until engulfing the game. In a wide-ranging interview with the right- FIFA and CONCACAF,” said a statement.”In his positions as a 2011 when he was forced to step down. He was also a FIFA wing weekly Weltwoche, published yesterday, Blatter main- football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the executive committee member from 1996 to 2013 and a vice tained his view that FIFA had done nothing wrong and could not offer, acceptance, payment and receipt of undisclosed and president of the US Soccer Federation. As part of his deal with be held responsible for the actions of individuals from continen- illegal payments, bribes and kickbacks as well as other mon- the US authorities he has agreed not to oppose any ban tal federations. ey-making schemes.” imposed on him by FIFA or any other football governing “There is no wangling under the direct influence of FIFA,” Blatter The ban on the 70-year-old American was ordered by body. Blazer has pleaded guilty to 10 counts, including rack- said. “But our influence over contracts concluded by the confedera- FIFA’s ethics committee adjudicatory chamber after investiga- eteering, tax evasion, wire fraud and money laundering con- tions is practically zero.” Asked whether he bore any responsibility as tions by football’s world body and US prosecutors. The one- spiracies.As a FIFA official he influenced the award of World the head of FIFA, Blatter replied that crime was a part of all walks of time powerbroker of North American football is a former ally Cup tournaments. And he has admitted to US investigators life. “It is impossible to stamp out robbery and murder, even with a of FIFA leader Sepp Blatter who has agreed to step down that he took bribes. functioning courts system down to community level,” Blatter said. because of controversy over US and Swiss investigations into As the powerbroker of US soccer he travelled by private “Football is not better than our society.” FIFA was thrown into the world body and World Cup tournaments. jet, kept two multi-million-dollar apartments in New York- turmoil after 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, Blazer has given evidence to US authorities investigating one reportedly for the use of his cats-and a home in the including several from Zurich-based FIFA, were indicted by the football corruption and is gravely ill in a New York hospital Bahamas. Behind his back, he was known as “Mr Ten United States in late May on bribery, money laundering and wire suffering from cancer. Blazer has acknowledged to US investi- Percent,” a nod to the kickbacks on which he allegedly insist- fraud charges. Seven of those accused were arrested by Swiss police gators that he took more than $11 million in bribes from 2005 ed. Now wheelchair-bound, he formally pleaded guilty at a in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel two days before the FIFA to 2010.He has been working undercover for US prosecutors closed-door court hearing in Brooklyn in November 2013 - Congress, where Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president. since 2011 even wearing wire taps to record conversations one of four people to plead guilty as part of the sweeping US They are in custody awaiting extradition to the US. —Reuters with other FIFA officials. Media reports say he gained substan- investigation. —AFP